Slashing ends sportsman's 21st birthday celebrations

A student celebrating his 21st birthday had just begun his big night on the town when his hand was slashed by a knife-wielding teenager.

The attack in Wellington's Courtenay Place comes only days after Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft warned that youth violence with weapons was increasing dramatically.

Stefan Fenger required four stitches to his right hand after he and his friends got into a fight with a 17-year-old about midnight on Thursday.

A geology student at Victoria University, Mr Fenger had been due to play in a handball tournament representing the university this weekend but will now be only a supporter. "I'm really gutted because I was looking forward to it," he said.

His 21st had ended up being "right up there" as his worst birthday ever, but the pain in his hand was not too bad.

Mr Fenger said the attack was "out of the blue". He moved to New Zealand from Germany four years ago and, despite the attack, said he still felt safe in Wellington streets.

However, he was concerned at the thought of young people carrying knives in public.

"Going to town carrying a knife at night, it's just stupid. You shouldn't be allowed to carry one unless you have a reason, like you work with them or something."

He and his friends had scuffled briefly with his attackers shortly before the incident when the 17-year-old and his friend bumped into them on bicycles.

Ten minutes later two cyclists approached them near Reading Cinema, yelling abuse. The 17-year-old then brandished a pocket knife and began waving it around, slashing Mr Fenger's hand in the process.

The teen, who police believe was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, ran off but was stopped by police in Taranaki St.

He was charged with unlawful possession of a knife and assault with a weapon and is due to reappear in Wellington District Court on Wednesday.

Last week, Judge Becroft warned that the number of youth assaults involving knives was a growing despite a drop in the total number of youth crimes in the last two decades.

Youth assaults with weapons including knives had jumped from 74 attacks in 1995 to 207 last year.

Canterbury University criminologist Greg Newbold said there appeared to be an increase in the number of youths carrying knives, which he believed could be attributed to the influence of violent movies.

This week four young Auckland men pleaded guilty to serious assault and robbery charges after a violent rampage partly inspired by the film American Gangster.

The increase was also because teens would carry knives to protect themselves from other armed youths, Dr Newbold said.

"But a weapon used in self defence can easily become a weapon used in offence, that's the problem."

- © Fairfax NZ News